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Chapter 1
What is Psychology?
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Chapter Preview
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Defining Psychology
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Psychology in Historical Perspective
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Contemporary Approaches to Psychology
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What Psychologists Do
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Science of Psychology and Health and Wellness
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Psychology: Defined
Psychology is the scientific study of
behavior and mental processes.
Three Key Components
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science – systematic methods
behavior – what can be directly observed
mental processes – thoughts, feelings, motives
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Science of Psychology
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Critical Thinking
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Skepticism
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Objectivity
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Curiosity
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History of Psychology
Western Philosophy
Biology and Physiology
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)
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1879 – established 1st psychology lab
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Wundt’s Structuralism
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identified structures of the mind
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introspection
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systematic, detailed self-reports
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James’ Functionalism
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identified the functions and purposes
of the mind
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stream of consciousness
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human interactions with outside world
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why is human thought adaptive?
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Psychology and Evolution
Charles Darwin
On the Origin of Species, 1859
Natural Selection
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competition for resources
genetic characteristics that promote
reproduction and survival are favored
environmental changes alter course of
evolution
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Contemporary Approaches
Current Psychological Perspectives
Biological
Behavioral
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Evolutionary
Sociocultural
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Biological Approach
The biological approach focuses on the
brain and nervous system.
Neuroscience
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study of the structure, function, development,
genetics, biochemistry of the nervous system
thoughts and emotions have physical basis in brain
allowed psychologists to better understand the brain
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Behavioral Approach
The behavioral approach focuses on the
environmental determinants
of observable behavior.
Notable Behaviorists
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John Watson
B.F. Skinner
rejected thought processes
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Psychodynamic Approach
Psychodynamics emphasizes
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unconscious thought
conflict between biological drives and
demands of society
early childhood family experiences
Psychoanalysis - Freud
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Humanistic Approach
Humanists emphasize
 positive human qualities
 capacity for positive growth
 free will
Humanistic Theorists
 Carl Rogers
 Abraham Maslow
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Cognitive Approach
The cognitive approach emphasizes the
mental processes involved in knowing.
Information Processing
…how humans interpret incoming info, weigh it,
store it, and apply it
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Evolutionary Approach
The evolutionary approach uses ideas such
as adaptation, reproduction, and natural
selection to explain human behavior.
Evolutionary Psychologists
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David Buss
Leda Cosmides
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Sociocultural Approach
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examines how social and cultural
environments influence behavior and mental
processes
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studies differences between ethnic and
cultural groups within and across countries
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Career Settings in Psychology
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Areas of Specialization
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Physiological Psych / Behavioral Neuroscience
Sensation and Perception
Learning
Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Motivation & Emotion
Psychology of Women & Gender
Personality Psychology
Social Psychology
Industrial / Organizational Psychology
Clinical & Counseling Psychology
Health Psychology
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Areas of Specialization
Also (but not addressed in text beyond this chapter)
 Community Psychology
 School & Educational Psychology
 Environmental Psychology
 Forensic Psychology
 Sport Psychology
 Cross-Cultural Psychology
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.